Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-01
STANDING ROCK AGENCY.
SCENES AT THE DISTRIBUTION OF
BEEF AMONG THE INDIANS.

Early on Oct. Z, 1856, was comfortably
seated in an open blackboard with my knees
under buffalo robe to keep out the cold, and
the thriving town of Mandan, Dakota, was
rapidly disappearing behind me. 1 had COM
menced the fifty mile ride southwark to Fort
Yates, on the Missouri river, where is the
famous Sioux agency known as Standing
Rock agency.
Late that afternoon we drew near the
agency. We passed many Indians on foot,
or riding their ponies. Tepees or Indian
tents began to appear in great numbers.
Crowds of Indian boys, clad even on this
cold day in only cotton shirt and deer skin
mOccasinS, were playing in the road Each
boy had a bundle of long darts, which he
would throw by resting the dart upon the
ankle of one foot held in the air for that pur-
pose, and then giving the rod q sudden jerk
| with his hand. 1t was wonderful to what
distances and with what accuracy they would
throw these darts. My companion told me
that these villages of tents were only tempo
rary, and that upon the following Monday
| night the tepees would be pitched far apart.
| The Indians had collected here now for their
bi-monthly issue of rations On the follow
ing morning, which happened 10 be Satur-
| day, the cattle would be killed and the beef
| distributed, and on Monday the other COM
| ponents of the ration, consisting of -four,
meal, salt, sugar, coffee and pork, would be
issued. Saturday is known as ''ldlling day."
and very full of interest found it.
AT THE SLAUGHTER PEN.
The next morning the officer at Fort Yates,
whose guest was, suggested our driving to
the ''killing." learned that there were two
slaughter pens, one north and one south Of
| from it The slower killing" is attended 30
first, all the Indians living on that side of the
| post receiving their beef there Each head
of cattle is carefully inspected and branded
before the killing commenced. When we ar
rived at the ''lower killing" VIC found an
enormous crowd of Indians, numbering prob
| ably 5000, while coming in across the prairie
on the numerous trails leading to the cattle
| pens were hundreds more, walking, riding,
| driving oxen or leading ponies. Most of the
| Indians rode bareback or with only blanket.
| Their ponies are hardy little beasts, and are
said to be descendants from Arabian stock
which were introduced into Spain with the
Saracens, and into America by Cortez and
his followers. have frequently seen one Of
these tough little animals trotting along with
three complacent, full grown Indians on his
back.
The inspecting and branding of the cattle
had already been completed, and the shoot
ing commenced when we arrived. The cattle
were confined in an open stockade, and were
shot down from the outside by Indians de-
tailed for the purpose. The two sides of the
stockade not in range of tho rifles were
crowded with Indians of all ages and both
sexes, while from the vantage ground of
their wagons many more were looking on
with brutal pleasure. Eagles feathers and
like ornaments frequently adorned their per-
sons, but their principal clothing consisted
of cast off garments of civilization, covered
in nearly every case by dirty government
blanket. When poor steer was struck in
some spot that was not vital a grunt of salts
faction and pleasure arose from ], 900 Indian
throats at tho wounded animals suffering
Sitting here and there in little groups were
some old fellows whose age had cooled their
love for bloodshed. They were calmly and
silently passing the long stemmed Indian pipe
round the little circles. On one side were
he Indian traders, busy bargaining for the
ides Of the animals that were being shot
own.
SITTING BULL AND GAUL.
My host pointed cut to me a buck who
was, perhaps, so years Of age He was tall, and
had slight stoop in his shoulders. He wore
smoccasins, trousers, and blue checked cot
ton shirt. On his head he had an old black
hat, with the skin and head Of large hawk
pinned to its crown. Over all was the blan-
ket, and in his hand was the long stemmed
Indian pipe. This man was Sitting Bull
Among the white men, as well as in his own
tribe, he has a reputation for dishonesty,
cunning and treachery. Gaul, a rival chief,
of whom Sitting Bull is very jealous, is a far
Il. l..
one, and full of character. When introduced
to me he looked me full in the face, and
grasped my hand as though he meant it
Gaul recognizes the fact that it is useless for
his people to fight the whites, and for that
reason he is a counselor for peace. Sitting
Bull, on the contrary, is constantly encourag-
ing dissatisfaction. Should the Sioux ever
take TO the warpath, it is most probable that
the more civilized under Ganl will remain at
peace while the others under Sitting Bull
will make the trouble.
An important person at these killings Is the
tribe 'crier." He was an old buck of lusty
lungs, who, standing upon small hill, pro-
claimed feast, and advising all to I'LL them
selves while the opportunity offered.
Other vocal sounds of q more lugubrious
character were heard on all sides. One
woman was seated on the ground rocking
herself to and fro, uttering most piteOus
walls. Other women in various attitudes
were vying with her in producing the most
mournful sounds These were mourners, de-
ploring the taking off of some near relative,
or a bright and shining light in the tribe.
These deaths are, however, generally kept
secret if possible until the following annual
census, in order that the surviving members
Of the family may enjoy the rations of the
deceased brother or sister
One beef creature is allowed for certain
number of Indians who are grouped accord
ingly. When the shooting was over the
stockade gates were opened and one repre-
sentative from each group pushed forward
with his yoke of oxen or team Of ponies eager
to seize upon the biggest and fattest steer.
\ sUrging mass of men and animals were
thus soon passing through the gates. The
slaughtered cattle were then drawn out by
the horns and placed in convenient places to
be dressed This work is done by the squaws,
who commence at once, and in few min
uteS a hundred groups scattered about are
busily engaged IN an occupation that seems
to suit them.
Every scrap of beef is saved. Even theen-
trails are eaten raw. The lungs and livers
are given to the squdws to reInunerate them
for dressing the animals. After the work
was done l saw them squatting around in
groups enjoying a light lunch of raw liver
Cor. New York Sun.
Three children Drowned.
MORRISON, H., Nov. 2S-Three children
of Mr. and Mrs. c. o. White, Lille, aged
twelve years; George, aged fifteen years,